1957 Anchorage Alaska

Terry Thomas
Born 1941
First movie memories in Anchorage, Alaska, population 30,000 (in 1957)
Interviewed on 1/20/19
by Wooje Chang

The first movie I ever saw is 12 Angry Men. Not a typical choice for a first movie, I know, but it is what was showing at the time. I was 17, and it was the summer before college. I was supposed to go to college in Fairbanks, and my lady friend at the time and I decided to go off on a road trip to Anchorage. I’d been there twice before, but she had never been. Now, this lady friend’s name is Meeta, and yes, she is my wife. So of course I remember this day.

It was my first time watching a movie, you know, so I didn’t know what to expect of it. We weren’t even planning on seeing a movie, but we were driving around downtown Anchorage and came across the big red sign that read 4th Avenue. Very yellow building. I wonder if the sign is still there. I remember there being a lot of people in the hall, even with the big staircase in the front. I don’t remember seeing any ushers, but I was paying more attention to my friend. The insides had this very intricate paintings on the wall. Big stage, almost shaped like the (Mount Olive) high school auditorium, with seats fanning out from the stage and with a high ceiling.

I remember eating the popcorn without any butter on it – it’s Meeta’s favorite way of eating popcorn. She still eats it like that to this day, with no butter, no caramel, not even salt. I don’t really understand it, but she was my date. I was not going to tell her how to eat her popcorn. It was ok though, since I had my soda with me. They don’t make them like they used to. You hear that a lot, but I gotta tell you, it’s true. Just something about the soda back then with just the right bit of sweetness. It made the bland popcorn taste good.

The theater was filled with a lot of smoke. I think every guys I knew smoked back then, and probably more than half the ladies, too. Heck, even the advertisement before the film was a tobacco ad, probably Lucky Strike. That’s what my Pop used to smoke. I never smoked, though, and I remember being hit with that wall of smell when I settled into my seat.

Now I have to be honest, I don’t remember too much about the movie. I know the general story, and I’ve caught pieces of it here and there on the TV during the holidays since then. I remember just rooting for the guy who stood firm to his opinions. He was just so firm in his belief. I respected that – I wanted to have a set of standards but not something like an ego. Funny thing is, I don’t remember him being too charismatic. Sure, he had that vigor, that energy, but never was charismatic. It was more like seeing a moose, you know. Just holding his ground, but not wavering one bit.

Meeta on the other hand loved the movie. I remember her getting so worked up and shouting during the movie. The theater was actually pretty noisy. People would be drinking their soda or

eat their popcorn, and they would keep move about in their seats. People would leave during the movie to use the restroom. Quite a bit hectic.

When the film was over, we grabbed a bite at a nearby deli. It was a good end to the night. I might go watch the film again.